Green 4
Mike Scroggins
vs
Doug Kent

Another lefty/Righty match. This is a tough one to pick.

Dougy is so versatile and good. Mike is so simple and good. Doug may have to think, Mike shouldn't have to.

So that favors Mike. Dougy also tends to get a little to much side tilt to follow this weeks transitions as well. This should create some carry issues because getting to the hole is very easy this week. OK I have talked myself into it.

I pick Mike to get to the Round of 16

 

Green 3
Randy Weiss
vs
Parker Bohn III

Parker and I have been working on some match-play transition this week and this will be his first test to see if they work. Hopefully his look in the later games will not get worse and he will be able to take advantage of what the lanes are providing him this week. If things go as planned we should see Parker bowling Norm in the Round of 8.

So lets plan on it. There are several bowlers that are capable of messing up those plans though. Norm has an easier path. Parker is going to have to earn it.

Don't take that personal I say that only because of natural games.

Green 2
Mike Machuga
vs
Chris Johnson

Lets give credit where it is due. I have seen Chris do some things I didn't see him do very well in the past.

Machuga is suppose to bowl good on this pattern and if he does he will have the opportunity to bowl his buddy Norm in the round of 16.

But being honest I have to tell you Mike is not at the top of his game just yet.

I will pick Mike because of the natural match-up though.

Mike has been using the Vapor Zone/Strike Zone combination. We drilled up a Classic Zone for the later games if needed.

Green 1
Dave D'Entremont
vs
Norm Duke

So Dave is bowling this year. I have to be honest this is the first week I have seen Dave. He hasn't performed well on the lane and he seems to be out of the bowling center asap the last couple weeks.

Norm on the other hand hasn't had many days off. He has been a contender for the show both weeks so far. No exception this week and I really think we will see him there this week. The only road block may be Parker in the Round of 8

Blue 4
Wes Malott
vs
Walter Ray Williams Jr.

All good things must come to an end and I think this is when it is going to come to an end for Wes.

If Walter doesn't win something must be wrong with his game because he suppose to beat everybody on this condition.

As long as Walter doesn't get caught in the too dull of ball syndrome he is known for I don't think he will have much of a problem and I expect him to get to the show.

Blue 3
Tony Reyes
vs
Hugh Miller

Hmmmm!.

Hugh's ball has been striking a lot even when it doesn't look right on the lane. Tony in my opinion is just bowling good because I don't like his match up this week. Once oil gets down the lane Tony may be OK but for some reason he wants to tilt hook it more than I think he should be.

Hugh to the round of 16

Blue 2
Chris Collins
vs
Rick Miller

I am going to keep saying this till everybody believes me. Chris Collins is real good. I don't know much about Rick Miller except I am told he use to bowl on tour back around 1993.

Chris has some road blocks to get over but if he can last out and not fry he will be a regular force on tour.

 

Blue 1
Pete Weber
vs
Chris Loschetter

Go ahead everybody pick Pete Weber. He is a hall of famer and he is great but I really like how the Loschetter kid matches up. His speed rev ratio seems to match up every week. I also like what he is looking for on the lane. He seems to play his ball roll as much as he plays the lane. Pete seems to be playing the lane more than his roll. Because of this I favor Chris to see less transition. He still has a lot of gaps in his equipment but when your ball roll matches up equipment is not as important.

Black 4
Brian Voss
vs
David Traber

I am going to go with Dave on this one because he can and will throw it over anything that Brian does to the front part of the lane. There is not much oil past 15 feet in the part of the lane Dave and Brian are attacking. But the lack of oil in the front part of the lane by game 4 should effect Brian more than Dave.

So I will favor Dave and his natural game in this one. But you can never count out Voss that is for sure.

Black 3
Mike Edwards
vs
Lonnie Waliczek
Lonnie made it through the TQR (Tour Qualifying Round) because Tommy Jones withdrew from the tournament when his wife decided to have their baby on practice day. First I want to congratulate the Jones's for their first born. 
Mike is so steady and Lonnie so extreme. Mike never seems to be lost and those that know Lonnie knows he can get lost in a round room.
Lonnie can go straight or hook the whole lane. We know where Mike is going to play and do.

So how am I suppose to know what the outcome is going to be. But since things seem to be going Lonnie's way this week I will go with him to find his way to the Round of 16

Black 2
Rick Lawrence
vs
Dale Traber

I have learned the hard way that you have to give Rick some credit. Not many people recognize him for his skills because he is not the prettiest style or have the most powerful ball roll.

But if you ask the pins how they felt after a Rick Lawrence match I bet they may not be bruised but I guarantee you they will be dizzy. He has a knack for getting them to trip over each other.

This is a clash of the wrist supports. I think these are the only exempt players who use wrist supports and we may find out who has the best wrist support on tour today.

Black 1
Michael Haugen Jr.
vs
Chris Hayden

This is one of the lefty/righty matches that I think the righty has the obvious advantage. I don't think Chris will be comfortable with his own lane transition and Michael loves to see friction. I think we will see Michael advance to the Round of 16. This does not mean Chris can't win it just means I don't know if he knows how to deal with oil transitions on shorter patterns with  more oil at the end of the pattern.

Show me what you got Chris.

Red 4
Joe Ciccone
vs
Ben Laughlin

I know who is the more versatile player. I know who is the most experienced player. I know who I am rooting for but to be honest I like Ben's match up better. Joe has wanted to hook the lane more than I think he should and Ben like several others this week is a natural match-up.

I will always go with the bowler who is able to do his thing especially when the issue is carry. So I expect to be telling Joe that he got beat by a bowler who just matched up better.

That being said all of you that know Joe also know he likes to prove you wrong, and he is pretty good at it.

Red 3
Patrick Allen
vs
Mike DeVaney

There are a lot of lefty righty matches this morning and we could have as many of 6 lefties in the round of 8. (So I am told)

During the practice sessions and early in the tournament I would have told you that Mike had zero chance to make match-play that is how bad his look was.

Shows you what I know. He pulled out a Classic Zone from last year with the pin in the middle of his grip and opened up the whole lane.

Thanks for making me feel stupid Mike.

Hard to go against Patrick on this one

Red 2
Bill O'Neill
vs
DJ Archer

Bill O'Neill has more options than DJ and I really like this kids future. DJ has unique skills and can strike forever when he sees what he likes. I have not quite identified what he likes though.

I am scratching my head on this one because DJ struck more than Bill this week but I am not convinced he knows how to control the lane breakdown in his favor yet. For that reason I will pick Bill to match up better.

TV

Green
Round of 8
Mike Machuga
vs
Doug Kent

I am more confident in this match than any of the others simply because I know how the lane is going to transition and I know who is going to have the advantage. I have to give the edge to Machuga because of the way the lane will break down. If it was a matter of getting soft with your hand and staying closer to the dry I would favor Dougy. But we pretty much saw a preview of this match when we say Machuga bowl Duke. Mike matches up better this week.

Blue
Round of 8
Wes Malott
vs
Pete Weber

I am really surprised Pete has gotten this far I don't think his match-up is really that good. But Weber is Weber and when he gets a sniff at the show he seems to have another gear he can shift into. Wes Malott...what can I say. He is matching up on everything. I have been more impressed with him this week than in the previous two because I have seen him change his roll whereas the first two weeks he could just claw on it because of the oil down lane.

Goes to show you what a little confidence can do for you.

Black
Round of 8
Rick Lawrence
vs
David Traber

This could be a lot higher scoring pace than most expect. They have their own side of the lane to transition how they see fit. Traber has had more trouble in the late games than Lawrence has so Traber will need to get off to a fast start.

I will pick Traber but Lawrence always scares me, this guy can strike on the burn and not have to chase the oil.

 

Red
Round of 8

Bill O'Neill
vs
Mike DeVaney

One of the PBA's future stars will have his first opportunity to make the show. It will be fun to watch how he reacts to that opportunity.

More importantly...Del Ballard told me that Bill O'Neil would make the show before his match with Eugene McCune. I told him maybe if he gets by McCune. I think the fix is in because Eugene's strategy looked like he was trying to lose. You will after read about that in a later post but until then I am rooting for Mike DeVaney not against the future star.

Green
Round of 16
2
Doug Kent
vs
Parker Bohn III

This match could be a real cat fight. This is a match between sisters. Doug's wife and Parker's wife are sisters.

Somebody's baby is going to get a new pair of shoes. And If I know these two guys the winner will be wiling to buy another pair for the other baby.

It is hard to root against either bowler in this match, but B loyalty has me sitting on the left.

Good Luck Leslie and Chrissie.

 

Green
Round of 16
1
Norm Duke
vs
Mike Machuga

This match is happening on a regular basis. Norm tells me this is the 5th time they have bowled against each other (counting this year and late last season) he also pointed out that Mike is 0-5 against him (with a smile of course)
This is certainly a toss up but the breakdown might actually favor Mike this time. Mike really idolizes Norm and has many of the same skills but if he tries to attack the friction with touch as well as Norm he won't win. But if he can get left and use it as hook late in the match he can beat his idol. But it needs to get late.
 

Blue
Round of 16
2
Wes Malott
vs
Tony Reyes

Wes was able to take advantage of the way Walter and he broke the lane down better than Walter, I was surprised at the outcome of that match because I didn't think Walter would be effected by anything Wes could do to the front of the lane. I was wrong there as Walter's look was certainly effected. Well I expect the same thing to happen in this match just from a different part of the lane. The breakpoint may be deeper but the result will probably be the same. Wes should win this match.

Blue
Round of 16
1
Pete Weber
vs
Chris Collins

I don't see any reason to think Pete Weber is suppose to win this match other than his name. That seemed to be enough for him to get by his first match against a tour rookie. But I have to think that was about Chris Loschetter attacking the lanes in a more challenging way. I was surprised to see Chris Loschetter try and attack the lane as sideways as he was. I know this Chris won't do that because he can't. I think Chris Collins will win without much of a problem even though Pete is the bigger name.

I went out on that limb didn't I.

Black
Round of 16
2
Mike Edwards
vs
David Traber

I was just talking to Dave and he was telling me that he really is not bowling that well after two weeks of so much oil down lane. He feels he is about 60% and the reason he is doing well this week is just because he is matching up. Well good ball reaction has a way of making your swing loser so don't be surprised if you see Dave make the Show this week.

Dave has been using an Ultimate Inferno.
 

Black
Round of 16
1
Chris Hayden
vs
Rick Lawrence

Another lefty will go down this round. After looking like we could have 6 lefties in the Round of 8 we now only have three left. I have no idea where to go with this match and both seem to be striking a lot. So I think I will just sit back and appreciate the strategy of two guys who don't move around very much. Carry should be the first thing to go and I think Rick will suffer the most because of the way he hits up on the ball. That could be the biggest difference in the match.

Red
Round of 16
2
Mike DeVaney
vs
Joe Ciccone

This is the match-up of two guys who have found the match-up as the week went along. They have gained confidence as they get furtherer along in the tournament.

Joe using his Retro attack. He loves old balls. This week is using a Raging Red Fuze, Time Zone and some old Lane Number 1 ball.

DeVaney has found a particular layout working for him and has placed this in 2 Vapor Zones with different surface prep and a Classic Zone.

May the best B Ball win.

Red
Round 16
Eugene McCune
vs
Bill O'Neil

After watching Eugene demolish Jason with the Vapor Zone we drilled for the round of 32. Bill better be ready to strike.

Bill struggled to shoot 230 when Eugene only had one game under 259 and that was 238.

I have a lot of confidence that Bill will win many matches and if he can get by Eugene he has a very good chance of making his first show.

He can do it if he finds the same match-up the Eugene was able to find.

 

Red 1
Jason Couch
vs
Eugene McCune

The leader of the Tour Qualifying Round vs the leader of the Exempt Qualifying Round.

From first thoughts it will be hard to bet against Jason as his ball has been splitting the 8-9 all week. Eugene is able to use his uniqueness and throwing pins side to side. Eugene must be throwing the ball in excess of 21 MPH. He is using a combination of Ultimate Inferno and Strike Zone. We drilled up a Vapor Zone knowing he was going to have to follow his own breakdown.

Sorry Eugene Jason's ball is rolling too good.